Indian Journal of History of Science, 244) : 211-223 (1989) THE YUGA OF THE YAVANAJATAKA DAVID PINGREE’S TEXT AND TRANSLATION REVIEWED K. S, SHUKLA Hussainganj Crossing Behind Lakshman Bhawan Lucknow-226001 (Recewed 4 October 1988) INTRODUCTION The Yavanajataka written by Sphujidhvaja Yavaneévara in the third century A.D. was edited and translated into English by Prof. David Pingree in 1978. The last chapter (ch. 79) of this work is called Horavidhi and deals with luni-solar astronomy on the basis of a period of 165 years called yuga and the synodic motion of the planets. The text is marred by faulty editing, the incorrect readings being adopted and the correct ones given in the apparatus criticus, with the result that the translation is incorrect at places and the meaning really intended by the author is lost. The object of the present paper is to study this chapter so as to bring out the meaning really intended by the author. The paper will be confined to the study of the yuga of the Yavanayataka and its various constituents. In the process the relevant passages and their translation as given by Prof. Pingree will be reviewed and modified. 1. TIME-MEASURES Verses 28-29 of Chap. 79 of the Yavanajataka give a table of time-measures. Pingree’s text and translation run thus : Text: FE We TH Beteera wealeeoren fagtanitey | or WRefrentt = aiserer eer aera sim 121)212 K. S. SHUKLA oat Peareea aire fag: went fe] wale J 1 Reniterg sect gece APTA | ARR Trayah paléh syuh kudavo 'stamasca tannadikakhyam vidurekasastim | Tah sastiliptipi ca nddikakhya bhavanti sastirdyunisd kramena {{ 28 {| Kali nimesiistasata dasona viduh kalastrimsa|ca| nddikd tu | Dyinadikastu prathito muhiirto minapramUnddividhiprasiddhau {| 29 }}) Translation : A kudava is 3% palas, and 61 kudavas equal 1 nddikd. The naidikas are also each divided into 60 liptas (“minutes”); there are 60 nadikds in a nychthemeron. One kald equals 790 (?) nimesas, one nddikd 0 kalds, and one muhiirta 2 n@idik@s in the accomplishment of the rules relating to measures and standards. Remarks : (1) We find that according to this translation one nadikd is equal to 30 kalés, whereas in the formulation of the rules stated in vss. 11, 12 and 13 one muhitrta (“a period of 2 nadikas") is taken equal to 20 kalds, and in verse 31 also one kald has been used in the sense of 1/10 of a nddikd or 1/20 of a muhiirta. This discrepancy is due to the adoption of the incorrect reading “kaldstrimsa |ca|” (in vs, 29b) in place of the correct reading “kaldstd dasa" which has been given in the apparatus criticus. Restoring the correct reading in place of the incorrect one, we find that the text gives the following table : 3% palas = 1 kudava 61 kudavas = = 1 nik? 60 liptas = 1 nadika 60 ndqikas = = 1 nychthemeron 790 nimesas = = 1 kal 10 kalas = 1 nadtkt 2 nadikas = = 1 muhiirta (or ksana).THE YUGA OF THE YAVANAJATAKA 213 Likewise 20 kalds = 1 muhirta 30 muhiirtas = 1 nychthemeron. It is these two relations that have been used in verses 11, 12 and 13. The same relations were given by Susruta' and Par&éara? (2) Itis noteworthy that according to the Vedahga Jyautisa’ too, 3% palas = 1 kudava and 61 kudavas = 1 nadika. But there 1 = 1 nadika = 10-—— kalas. cad x0 It seems that Sphujidhvaja Yavanesvara has taken 1 nidika = 10 kalas to avoid fractions, or he has followed Susruta or Paraéara. 2. TITHIS IN THE YUGA Verse 6 gives the number of tithis in the yuga (“a period of 165 years”). Pingree’s text and translation run thus : Text: mam ae eagieRr Reaftragaiarersatse veieart_ feet wed tat Fr Regal aq ey Kramena candrah ksayavrddhilaksya- stithigcaturmanavidhinabijah | Satpancakagre dvigate sahasram tesiim yuga binduyutani sat ca || 6 (|) ' Translation : ‘The Moon is to be characterized by waning and waxing in order. The tithi possesses the seed of the principles of the four (systems of time-) measurement. There are 60,265 (days) in a yuga. Sutrasthina, ch. vi. 4. ith Bhattotpala’s Commentary, Sudhakara Dvivedi's edition, p.24, lines 3-5. » See Yajusa Jyautiga, vs. 24,